I Know There Must Be a Reason Why..I Just Don't Know

R

RH Factor

New member
:confused: Why isn't there a da/sa...or..a s/a small gun made. We have the Kahr, Kel Tec p11, and even mini Glocks..all poly and DAO..and we have the colt pony&mustang, llama mini, and star S/A.
WHY isn't there a poly mini that isn't DAO. I know someone will make me a fool and tell me one.....I hope. And I hope It's dependable.
RH Factor
 
I dunno if this is the reason, but if I'm carrying a gun so tiny I can drop it in my pocket I want it to be a DAO. The SA guns are best carried securely inside a holster, so that you don't have to worry about the safety being bumped off.
 
A SIG 239 is not much higher than a Glock, and thinner.

I would guess that the reason is to simplify the trigger mechanism. I think a DA/SA set up would take more room, plus you have to add a safety or a decocker. More parts = more size.

In a self defence pistol, small controls are not that desirable. A small safety that you miss when you need it means no shot.
 
Cost of design is major factor. Also application of firearm.

Small DAOs with long & heavy triggers is fine because of the close & personal nature of self defense handguns. You don't need to spend money to design "smoothness" of SA into the trigger system.

A small revolver may fit your need.
 
The reason is simple. Most of those guns are sold to people who want something as simple as possible to use. Gun guys often love bells and whistles and gadgets galore, the more the merrier.

But a nurse walking to her car at midnight in a dark parking lot doesn't care about seven-way safety catches and sideways special trigger pulls and neat levers to cock, decock and serve coffee.

She wants to know that if she pulls the trigger, the gun will go bang. It is not a bad approach.

Jim
 
But a nurse walking to her car at midnight in a dark parking lot doesn't care about seven-way safety catches and sideways special trigger pulls and neat levers to cock, decock and serve coffee.
Click to expand...

Hey, I'll get the one that serves coffee. I'll even get the limited edition that does espresso!
 
Well, a classic SA mini is the Beretta 950bs. I used to own one. I never did get used to carrying it cocked n' locked inside the pocket either. Instead I carried it in Condition Two, which of course didn't do much good.
 
I've been meaning to ask this same question. I don't think the PPK, Makarov, and other traditional "pocket pistols" in .32, .380, and 9x18 are in the same category (less powerful and usually heavier). I'd like to see a traditional double-action 9mm or .40 S&W in an ultra-compact and light weight pistol.

Why is it that Kel-Tec, Kahr, Taurus, and others can make very compact, lightweight, polymer DAO pistols, but no one makes this size in a traditional DA. I carry a Kel-Tec P11 hiking and stream fishing (killed a rattle snake at my feet with it last summer), but I would like to be able to cock it to get a better trigger pull when I have time.

It is also odd that the .380-sized pistols are almost all traditional DA (if DAO is the best solution for small self-defense pistols, why aren't there more .380s in this configuration?). My guess is that the .380 are mostly older designs when traditional DA was most popular. DAO is now popular, it is easier and cheaper to build a DAO than a traditional DA, and everyone is competing with Kel-Tec and Kahr, so they duplicate their operation. I can't help but wonder if someone would break the mold and make a compact 9mm in traditonal DA if they wouldn't sell quite a few. I've read comments about a compact P99 - maybe that will be what I'm looking for (if it really is a lot smaller than the P99).

Doug
 
The older 380s are mostly based on European designs. The 380/32 ACP is a BELT pistol among European police. Anything you want to use for self defense should be as idiot proof as possible, hence DAO. I personally prefer a S&W hammerless Centennial revolver for an idiot proof self defense weapon.

The wonderful old pre-'68 FN Browning commercial 1910 pocket 380s are striker fired single action. You are always wondering if the tiny safety is still on...
 
I have a Sig 239 and a KelTec p11...but they won't work in a back pocket. The reason that I started this thread is that I too would like the option of the crisp clean SA trigger pull if I want. Somebody must like them or a Colt mustang pocketlite wouldn't be selling for $500 plus and the guys at Scott-McDougall wouldn't be doing so much business working on them. Just as the folks at Seecamp have a tough time filling all their orders..I'll bet someone that would produce a quality sa/da .32 or 380 poly will make big bucks too. Just my .02
Thanks RH Factor
 
DougB, I think you'd like the S&W 360SC .357/.38 ... for hiking and such, at 12oz. with the ability to shoot .357mag, .38+P, or .38spl SA or DA, it's tough to beat. Oh ya, I forgot about the .38 shotshells too (nice for a snake).

Others,

I've heard no mention yet about trigger pull on DA pistols. Time and again I hear the "gurus" bitch about how a DA auto is bad for PP (personal protection) as, presuming you don't carry cocked-n-locked, the first trigger pull is significantly different than the rest, implying that your first shot (more likely than the rest) may be significantly poor.

At the very least, a DA auto SHOULD have a decocker (even if it has a safety). The Sig P232 is likely the most ideal CC auto in this respect as it has no safety, but does have a decocker, and, you can get them in DAO, if you wish. I think a Kahr P9 DA with a decocker and a DAO option, both with NO SAFETY would be ideal. Actually, I'm a little surprised Sig hasn't (at least to my knowledge) come out with something like the P232 in a polymer frame ... even then, I would prefer 9mm (as opposed to kurz).

Otherwise, just practice more with your DAO until you can shoot like you can in SA (not like I'll ever be able to).

Later.
 
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